Question:
numbness/neuropathy

I am about 5 years out from RNY and lost about 200 # total. I haven't had health insurance until this past 6 months or so and had developed slight numbness in my feet about 1 year ago, which is gone now and now my left arm is numb and tingly. My left leg has also in this past week developed slight pain to the touch-like a burning type pain from the thigh down to calf. Uncomfortable at times. I went to er and nothing found,. I am having some nerve tests done next week but they have been done before with no luck also. My question is if any other WLS members are having anything like this happening and if so, what was your outcome? Could it be severe vitamin deficiencys? I do the best I can with the nutrition but it has been hard also. I have lost a job/ went through divorce and so on and things have been hard but I am praying this doesn't get worse. I am going back to see surgeon who did thie RNY shortly also. Thank you for anything you could offer me. Cheryl    — cherby56 (posted on June 8, 2008)

June 8, 2008
Hi Cheryl, I had something very similar til I actually collapsed on a dance floor one night. My right leg just gave way from under me..My doc found that I had a nerve compression.I am seven years post op.Let us know if it has anything to do with a definciency..that is an interesting thought.
   — caymanbabe

June 8, 2008
Yep! It could definitely be a vit deficiency...B 12 would be my first guess. (Notice I said "guess"? I'm no doctor and don't pretend to be....but I do a lot of research because my General practictioner doc doesn't know anything about WLS or how to treat me...so I made sure to research anything vitamins and minerals) Ask your doc to run a full set of vitamin labs. Are you even taking vitamin supplements? I hope so! They are FOREVER! I have a magnesium deficiency...When it was really low, my arms and legs would fall asleep all the time or get tingly...By the way...stress like you have depletes magnesium...So it could very well be vitamin related. Good luck...I hope you find relief soon and that it's nothing serious!
   — .Anita R.

June 9, 2008
It could also be a pinched nerve or nerves. It might be worth your while to check out this possibility. Maybe see a chiropractor, I truly believe they can help. Maybe it isn't your thing but might be worth the looking into. Good Luck!
   — Toni Todd

June 9, 2008
Hi Cheryl. 200# -- WOW!! Good job. You did not mention whether you've been diagnosed with Type-II Diabetes. If not (I'm no M.D. mind you), it's possible that you could have acquired it since your surgery. Note that chronic overeating and morbid obesity are NOT the only causes of Type-II Diabetes and R-N-Y surgery is not always the "cure" as is claimed in some circles. A couple of years prior to my R-N-Y surgery, I had a long, grueling 14-hour surgery on my back. Afterward, while still in the hospital, I had severe tingling/numbness in feet and ankles on both sides. To a lesser degree, the same symptoms appeared in my hands and one forearm. (I weighed 315 lb at the time of that surgery.) At the same time, I was diagnosed with diabetes and started on medication for it. The sudden onset of peripheral neuropathy did not subside this time, as it had after a few other prior major surgeries. What I'm trying to suggest, Cheryl, is that you should consult your physician about the possiblilty of having acquired Type-II Diabetes since your R-N-Y surgery. With your job loss, divorce, etc., have you "fallen off the wagon" and begun to eat things that diabetics should be avoiding, chocolates and so forth? Even if you don't eat huge quantities if the "bad stuff" and are losing or maintaining your weigt, short episodes if extremely elevated blood sugar levels could be contrubuting to acquisition of peripheral neuropathy and other negative health conditions associated with Type-II Diabetes. OK, maybe it's not Diabetes at all! You should pursue with your doctor the cause of your numbness. The nerve damage associated with diabetic induced peripheral neuropathy generally can not be reversed but it should be aggressively treated so that it does not continue to worsen.
   — [Deactivated Member]

May 21, 2009
Neuropathy can be due to vitamin deficiencies, from the malabsorption - look at neuropathy.org for more info... but also can be due to other things - follow up with neurologist, and bariatric surgeon (get labs done). Good luck!
   — [Deactivated Member]

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